Even Hades was impressed by his action. The growl in his throat wasn't just a warning. No, it was not the fact that he was touching her, there was something else that at the moment he did not know and it bothered him to the point of clenching his teeth.
The brown wolf released her hands and got up cautiously, not liking the intense silver gaze of the alpha who seemed to want to move at any moment and rip his throat in two.
He smirked and turned his attention to the she-wolf once he knew he would not be attacked.
-My queen come, everyone will be very happy to see you- he was going to take her by the arm but stopped in midair. Hades's hand had come to rest on Nebraska's hip, and his gaze was warning her again to keep her distance.
The omega for her part felt the atmosphere tense, and the reason for that was her. She liked to keep a low profile and having two wolves arguing with her person in the middle made her uncomfortable and in a bad way.
-Liam- she used a serious and authoritative tone. If they weren't going to behave like civilized wolves, someone had to- Take me to where the members of the pack are, I'll follow you-
He nodded without question and began to walk away from them.
-Alfa, he is my previous beta, you could not be so rude-
That a woman was defending another wolf in front of her was something new in her life, but that was not the point.
-There's something about him that I don't like-
Nebraska sighed and was aware of the hand on her hip holding her possessively.
-You could let me go- she said in a lower tone.
Having him so close did not seem appropriate now that she was going to visit her other family, after all she was still married and although Rudoc had done the unimaginable to her, he was still her husband and they had laws that she had to respect. Although few knew of his yearning for the relationship that united them to be broken, because luckily for her, he could still dissolve it.
-No- the alpha answered in his ear. And he could swear he felt her groan at his refusal.
-The fact that he took you out of the mansion without César's medical permission puts you under my responsibility, besides, I want to touch you-
-You don't have to stay with me at all times, I appreciate it but you know the laws, you think I didn't notice the comments of your pack- she kept a calm profile but the sweat released from her forehead gave her away. That wolf placed his hands on his body whenever he had the opportunity and with the contact it was something he was still dealing with.
-That will be fixed soon- his breath in her ear shook her- after all, now you are mine-
Nebraska froze and turned to him, releasing his hand from his hip with a sneaky slap, he did not want Liam or someone else to see his supposed fight, that would not help his family.
-I- his voice came out deeper- I don't belong to anyone-
Hades stared at her for a moment and the muscles in his face tensed. She stood up to him, no one had done it up to now replying to him, least of all a wolf. He clenched his fist until it hurt, holding back his alpha male instinct to bend her right there and show her who's boss.
-Omega- His words also came out more serious -Watch your tone-
Nebraska went still. It had bothered him, he could feel it in her scent. She swallowed and held her straight pose, though in the end she opted to turn and walk towards where her beta was heading.
She knew she couldn't fight him, she repeated it over and over in her mind. That she should maintain his composure and for the good of all who fell on her shoulders stoop to accept his orders, but never, never, would be anyone's. It hadn't been Rudoc's and it wouldn't be his.
Hades sighed. For an omega she was more difficult to handle than any wolf. He did not like submissive women but meeting one who had a character like Nebraska was a whole new experience, one that he found very interesting in his routine. He was convinced that in the end he would be the one who would win, and she would be totally his. That could be assured.
Nebraska walked smoothly and to her luck more stable. He tweeted it behind him, close. He stopped next to Liam when the silhouette of a woman appeared fuzzy in his range of vision.
-My queen- a sob came from the stranger- It is really you-
Nebraska recognized her instantly.
-Katrina? The she-wolf nodded and knelt kissing his palms.
Hades found that this seemed to be a custom among them as he recalled the repeating pattern among various people who copied that woman.
Nebraska smiled slightly at the impressed members who asked her questions about her health, how she was doing. Some did not believe she was alive. More than 50 years deceived with a cruel lie had wreaked havoc.
Some cubs approached and touched her with the tip of their finger to verify that she was not a ghost, her people had made her short reign a cult of legend after her supposed death, they loved her, she had been very good to them and had achieved a stability in a time of chaos, he did not want his effort to be hated in history.
Nebraska snorted. They must have exaggerated with more than one detail. The scent of exaltation and shock from the youngest of the pack filled the place.
-Do your legs hurt?- One of the puppies asked him when he was, after a few minutes he had sat down and was rubbing his thighs.
-I'm fine- he calculated where the boy should be and reaching out, ruffled his hair.
The boy left, to run after his mother, a very thin wolf that seemed to have gone through more than one job.
-Mom, she's very pretty- her mother smiled and bowed to Nebraska.
Liam told her at one point that he had explained the situation to them and that was a relief. He didn't want to deal with that issue yet. That dark stage of his life was not pleasant at all. Hades found himself admiring his pack's devotion to her. The sparkle in their eyes was genuine and some couldn't hide their enthusiasm. They didn't blame her for being missing for so many years and her husband ruining them.
They really loved her, loved her, and respected her. How much had their queen done for the good of all? How much had he sacrificed? That's when Hades understood. He understood the meaning of her words.
-Where are most of the males? -It seemed strange to her that almost all those present were she-wolves, cubs and the occasional elderly male.
-They are being held in another place. They have lost the control, they are not aware of their actions and I will not risk that they mistreat the weak-
Hades approached cautiously keeping it less imposing that it didn't work as most of the cubs backed away. That was something he would have to work on and soon, on acceptance from the pack.
He watched as the omega lowered her head, brushing her chin thoughtfully. When she returned to incorporate the decision what he saw did not bring him a nice feeling.
-Alfa, takes me where they are-
Hades only arched one eyebrow.
-Not in your worst dreams-